First LTE Networks Deployed by TeliaSonera in Sweden and Norway

December 15th, 2009: TeliaSonera today launched the world’s first LTE services in Sweden and Norway. The LTE networks cover the central city areas of Stockholm and Oslo and initially will be used for mobile data services. Coverage roll-out to more cities in each country will continue in 2010.

The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) recently confirmed there are 51 LTE network commitments in 24 countries. The number of commitments by operators to deploy LTE systems increased by more than 96% in the past 8 months. GSA anticipates that a further 17 LTE networks will be in commercial service by end 2010.

Dozens of LTE trials are on-going in all regions, and in the coming months these are likely to lead to a wave of further commitments to deploy LTE being announced.

LTE is needed to accommodate the anticipated continuing huge traffic growth for data already evident today with HSPA and HSPA Evolution (HSPA+) systems, and to fully address the mass market. LTE boosts network throughputs significantly, and reduces latency, improves spectrum and other operational efficiencies and performance, for the next step in the user experience.

More information including the status of each commitment, deployment, trials, the developing eco-system, etc. is available in the GSA information paper Evolution to LTE, which is available as a free download to registered site users at www.gsacom.com